gatorbait 1 #26 May 10, 2003 Yeah that was done by me, and I guess the people who thought that it would be cute to be negative and make smart remarks about it just goes to prove that the skydiving community isn't 100% perfect, thanks for shattering my image...oh well I guess 90% is close enough. I have had alot of very kind people help me out, not only on Ebay but from our home DZ as well. I am the type of person that helps anyone and everyone when I can, if it's giving some one my last quarter or just a nice word to make someone's day a little brighter. I am not afraid to ask for help, nobody should be. Even though I have only done the ground school for my first AFF jump & 1 tandem, I am totally accepted at our home DZ. To AirAnn: Thanks so much for your kind & encouraging words, after reading this very depressing & negative post, you really uplifted me. Restored my faith, that these "jerks" for better words thought it would be funny to try & destroy. When asked yesterday by one of my JM's why I wanted to learn to skydive, I told him, b/c it is truly amazing & there is nothing else that can be compared to it. It is like one of the ladies on the women's forum said, "that is is like falling in true love for the first time." Thanks again for your encouraging words, I plan to be around as a skydiver & a friend to most for a long time. To the ass cheese (you know who you are): I really hope that are paths never cross, to take unnecessary hacks at someone who is trying to make it, was so uncool. There are already plenty of people who are against skydiving that don't know anything about it. We don't need negativity inside our group. I am a part of one of the greatest DZ's around, I don't need your money or your support to help me out. Check your negativity at the door Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveM 0 #27 May 10, 2003 A couple of years ago, and I now forget which Parachutist it was in, but I had given away the first AirAnn.com Fresh Air Award. The young woman who did the tandem was just 18, had given birth 3 months earlier and the child was adopted by a family via the church home she was living in. She worked on getting into college while she was there and she got accepted to a college In Calif. If she never jumps again, Id like to think that on her worst day she can just look at her tandem pictures and remember - If you can jump out of an airplane, you can do anything. It has never been my point for her to remember me, just for her to remember that within herself - she is awesome. *** Wow, I didn't know that you did something like this. Steve M >^..^for me -- SkyDiving is a life sentence -- for it has saved my life. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #28 May 10, 2003 > We don't need negativity inside our group. I am a part of one of the greatest DZ's around. Welcome to skydiving... Ask around at your DZ about some of the other DZ's in the area. See how many nice words vs bad words are exchanged about the 4 main DZ's near you. Politics are strong in DZ culture's and among skydivers... its another thing to deal with. After getting out and traveling you'll be able to form your own opinons of DZ's and people. I personally despise a DZO in the area based on how they treated me last summer... but lots of people like them. (Not Greensburg) I'm yet to hear someone say that thier home DZ is'nt the best around... Another thing.. skydiving is expensive... this year alone its cost me over $1800. I plan on spending another $4000 jumping this year. If you can't afford to stay current once you get in... its only increasing your risk. I've told people that were having financial difficulty in paying for the sport it might be in their best interest to take a few years to save up the cash to go through things and stay current the whole time then it is to only do 10 jumps a summer or something. I've helped too many broken legs already on people that thought that 1 or 2 jumps a month would keep them current and safe.Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gatorbait 1 #29 May 10, 2003 Thanks for your "tactful" insight.... I will be able to jump often after I make it through AFF. My husband works at our DZ & I have already been given a job at manifest & answering the phones. That will allow me at least 2 free jumps a day. B/c we are a young couple & have our own football team (4 kids), we just didn't have a big wad of cash laying around to shell out at once. I am working off part of my classes, to help with the expense. My husband has been jumping for awhile & a good friend of his "gave" him his spare rig in exchange for some favors we had done. It is in like new shape & will be great for my first rig. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgoper 0 #30 May 10, 2003 without mentioning any monikers, please know that the <<<>>> that some give, does NOT represent the entire sky diving community. you know the old adage "There's One In Every Bar" the upper eschelon will always be there, sad, but true. sky diving is an extremely exilirating sport, there is no doubt about that, but some of the "hairstyles and attitudes" suck, you know who you are.--Richard-- "We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airann 1 #31 May 11, 2003 Steve, It is just the way it works with me. I also help a lot of students by email from all over the country. If somebody asks me something, I pretty much tell them what I think. I also really enjoy talking to students and new jumpers. I see their wide eyed excitement and selfishly it helps me alot more than it might them. The fact of the matter is this. I NEVER in a million years thought I could jump out of an airplane. (scared of heights) So I just wanted to see if I could. Call it a double dog dare to myself. I went to the dz without telling anyone. And here I am today. So thats why I say- if you can jump out of an airplane you can do anything-. That is how I felt then and now. What skydiving did for me was something I feel needs to be shared with other people. Emalee, jumped by herself. I only provided her opportunity. Her is what she wrote for the article about her experience: "There are few words that can accurately describe the skydiving experience. I never felt fear, only excitement. After you clear the plane its 45 seconds of glorious exhilaration followed closely by about 5 minutes of sheer heaven. No boss, no boyfriend could ever inspire such respect and reverence. Only God is capable of surpassing the awe of that horizon in the far distance, the ground spread flat beneath you, your skin pulled taunt by the velocity of wind rushing past. Those scant moments might cure the most determined cynic, could put joy into the heart of the depressed, has put to rest the most time-hardened fears. It's the closest man will ever come to flying of his own volition…as soon as I hit the ground I wanted to be up there again. I have already booked my next jump, and I plan to put aside money to jump at least once a month if not more. I will never be the same person as I was yesterday…the only fear I now have is that something could happen that might keep me from jumping again." Now, about people in this forum, mostly these folks are ok. Quite a large number of you guys are above outstanding. Sometimes you wouldnt know it by the posts, but perception in this medium is not the be all and end all of a person. People are most likely deeper in real life than what they write about in here. In addition, writing styles and wording will make you either think someone is a jerk or a hero. Possibly neither are accurate. Not that long ago, I as a single person, was about to lose my house and it was mentioned on a thread. I was really depressed about it. This was some time back and a way different posting crowd. But, I recieved help and awesome nice letters that to this day I keep in a plastic folder to remember how good people can be. Even bad people have their good days. I dont feel the need to abandon the entire human race or one single person instantly or permently. I think that given enough time for a thought process to occur people are fundementally good. Even no worries if we dont agree. Differences of opinion are valuable in that it gives one a chance to see things differently. Indeed the outcome may be the very same, but still a valuable exchange. For the record, I am going to help Gator. I havent figured out exactly how yet. But the idea will come to me in time and with enough coffee. Faith. ~AirAnn~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RevJim 0 #32 May 11, 2003 It needs to be said.... QuoteI'm yet to hear someone say that thier home DZ is'nt the best around... My home DZ is not the best around. Oh yea, that would be why it isn't my home DZ anymore. Home is where you land and are treated well, wherever that may be. For me, it a numbers of places, ranging from 30 miles away to well over 1000. To me, a home DZ is a crutch. It hinders the possible relationships you can form in this sport. It's ok to have a place you frequent often, but please, get out and travel. It doesn't mean you need to hit every DZ in a 3 state radius. Just get out, meet people, see what other DZ's are like. Do this enough and you realize that home is where you make it, not where you are expected to be.It's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #33 May 11, 2003 >To me, a home DZ is a crutch. It hinders the possible relationships you can form in this sport. It's ok to have a place you frequent often, but please, get out and travel. AMEN! I never left my DZ till I had 120 jumps and I was scared to leave. Since then I've hit 12 DZ's in 5 states with plans on adding another one to the list this next weekend. (both state and DZ) I love meeting all the new people and running into people I only met once but they still remember me. For me... I am making the WFFC my home DZ. I want another DZ out there to top that for planes/people/anything Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RevJim 0 #34 May 11, 2003 QuoteI am making the WFFC my home DZ Now that deserves an Amen! Don't say Rantoul. Don't say Quincy. Not even that site in Arkansas. Just WFFC. People, Planes, Parties, Panties (and the lack of them), and, um, oh yea, VIBES!It's your life, live it! Karma RB#684 "Corcho", ASK#60, Muff#3520, NCB#398, NHDZ#4, C-33989, DG#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydiverbob 0 #35 May 11, 2003 Yeah, I did, wtf, it's only a buck.Who Dares Wins Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WFFC 1 #36 May 11, 2003 Quote I am making the WFFC my home DZ It's mine!!! All Mine!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bdazel 0 #37 May 12, 2003 Good for you gator. I'm kind of jealous I didn't have the same idea when I went through AFF! Welcome to the skydiving world! You're going to love it! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChasingBlueSky 0 #38 May 13, 2003 Quote I guess I was wrong too. "B" qualified actually isn't a requirement. Just a current logbook showing at least 50 jumps, a legal rig, and cash. They did say though that not having your "B" would mean much closer scrutiny of your log book at registration. I find that didn't happen. he checked my card, flipped through my book, and gave me my wrist band. Funny thing - I had an easier time getting into Quincy with one jump (did my 2nd tandem at WFFC) then I did last year with just my A license and 400 jumps._________________________________________ you can burn the land and boil the sea, but you can't take the sky from me.... I WILL fly again..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
